Hōʻawa
Names
- ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi: Hō’awa
- Scientific: Pittosporum confertiflorum
Species Information
Hōʻawa is a medium sized plant, or a small tree, with small fruits, endemic to the Hawaiian Islands (Bishop). Hōʻawa is one of 11 Pittosporum species (Bishop). The most common species of Pittosporum is Pittosporum confertiflorum, commonly known as Hōʻawa (Herring). This species may be found on any of the main Hawaiian Islands except for Kauaʻi at elevations ranging up to 7000 feet (Herring). The leaves of these trees are recognized by their deep veins and glossiness that comes with age (Herring). The size of the trees leaves and fruits vary slightly, depending on the Pittosporum species (Herring). Further, this plant could be used medicinally for swollen necks (Bishop).
Distribution
Hōʻawa may be found on the islands of O’ahu, Lana’i, Maui and Hawai’i (Herring).
Habitat
Hōʻawa may be found in dry to wet habitats at elevations ranging from 550 to 7000 feet (Wagner 1999).
Threats
Hōʻawa and other species of Pittosporum face threats of increased development, fires, ungulate grazing and non-native plant growth.
Photos
References & Additional Resources
Bishop Museum: Plants of Hawaiʻi. (Accessed 2024): Pittosporum confertiflorum
Bishop Museum – Ethnobotany Database. (2024b). http://data.bishopmuseum.org/ethnobotanydb/ethnobotany.php?b=d&ID=hoawa
Herring, E. (2003). Pittosporum confertiflorum. Pittosporum confertiflorum (ho’awa). https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/hawnprop/plants/pit-conf.htm
Species profile. ECOS. (n.d.). https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/6873#:~:text=Listing%3A%20Threatened,APA%3A%20Designate%20Critical%20Habitat
Wagner, W. L., Herbst, D. R., & Sohmer, S. H. (1999). Manual of the flowering plants of Hawai’i. Vol. 2. University of Hawaii Press.